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London bus strike: Staff walk out over pay differences | London bus strike: Staff walk out over pay differences |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Bus drivers in London are taking part in a 24-hour strike. | Bus drivers in London are taking part in a 24-hour strike. |
Members of the Unite union walked out at 00:00 GMT over pay differences between the capital's 18 bus companies. | Members of the Unite union walked out at 00:00 GMT over pay differences between the capital's 18 bus companies. |
Transport for London (TfL), which said about 47% of routes were running, called it "totally unnecessary". | Transport for London (TfL), which said about 47% of routes were running, called it "totally unnecessary". |
The Unite union said the pay system was in "chaos" and had to be changed. Bus company Tower Transit said the union wanted them to "act as a cartel", which they legally could not. | The Unite union said the pay system was in "chaos" and had to be changed. Bus company Tower Transit said the union wanted them to "act as a cartel", which they legally could not. |
TfL warned there would be disruption to bus services across London and to night bus services operating into Friday morning. | TfL warned there would be disruption to bus services across London and to night bus services operating into Friday morning. |
'Totally unnecessary' | 'Totally unnecessary' |
Tfl said 51% of buses were in service. About 390 bus routes are running a service, with 2,650 buses. | |
Bus services during the day on Friday should operate as normal. | Bus services during the day on Friday should operate as normal. |
It is the first of three 24-hour bus strikes planned this month. The next are scheduled for 13 and 16 February. | It is the first of three 24-hour bus strikes planned this month. The next are scheduled for 13 and 16 February. |
Members of Unite want an end to salary differences between firms that can see staff salaries differ from £17,000 to £25,000. | Members of Unite want an end to salary differences between firms that can see staff salaries differ from £17,000 to £25,000. |
TfL has said that changing this could cost up to £100m a year. In an open letter in the Evening Standard, it called the strike "totally unnecessary". | TfL has said that changing this could cost up to £100m a year. In an open letter in the Evening Standard, it called the strike "totally unnecessary". |
However Metroline bus driver Steve O'Rourke, who was on the picket line in Archway, called for the bus companies to take action. | However Metroline bus driver Steve O'Rourke, who was on the picket line in Archway, called for the bus companies to take action. |
He said: "It is very simple really, we are doing exactly the same job. | He said: "It is very simple really, we are doing exactly the same job. |
"We drive up and down the roads with places that other companies are running as well and yet we are on different rates of pay." | "We drive up and down the roads with places that other companies are running as well and yet we are on different rates of pay." |
'Act as a cartel' | 'Act as a cartel' |
Pete Kavanagh, London regional secretary of Unite, said: "We've got a two-tier workforce in which people coming into the industry in recent years never get to the top rate of pay. | Pete Kavanagh, London regional secretary of Unite, said: "We've got a two-tier workforce in which people coming into the industry in recent years never get to the top rate of pay. |
"We've literally got hundreds of rates of pay and this has got to stop." | "We've literally got hundreds of rates of pay and this has got to stop." |
The bus companies affected are Abellio, Arriva, CT Plus, Go Ahead, London Sovereign, London United, Metroline, Stagecoach and Tower Transit. | The bus companies affected are Abellio, Arriva, CT Plus, Go Ahead, London Sovereign, London United, Metroline, Stagecoach and Tower Transit. |
John Traynor, from Go Ahead London, which runs a quarter of the capital's bus network, told BBC London 94.9 about 75% of its routes were running. | John Traynor, from Go Ahead London, which runs a quarter of the capital's bus network, told BBC London 94.9 about 75% of its routes were running. |
"I've said to the unions in by all if you want me to address pay disparity about minimum rates and to close the gap I can do that but they are unwilling to meet us locally," he said. | "I've said to the unions in by all if you want me to address pay disparity about minimum rates and to close the gap I can do that but they are unwilling to meet us locally," he said. |
Tower Transit Chairman Neil Smith said the company was running double the services it had run in the previous strike on 13 January. | Tower Transit Chairman Neil Smith said the company was running double the services it had run in the previous strike on 13 January. |
"There are disparities due to length of service and there are disparities due to geography," said Mr Smith. | "There are disparities due to length of service and there are disparities due to geography," said Mr Smith. |
"This is an attempt to force a group of competing operators who are delivering a very cost effective bus service for London to act as a cartel and our legal advice is we cannot do that." | "This is an attempt to force a group of competing operators who are delivering a very cost effective bus service for London to act as a cartel and our legal advice is we cannot do that." |
Leon Daniels from TfL said: "It's not a matter for TfL to step in on. | Leon Daniels from TfL said: "It's not a matter for TfL to step in on. |
"For the last 20 years, we've run a brilliant bus service as a result of local pay negotiation between the local drivers and their employers." | "For the last 20 years, we've run a brilliant bus service as a result of local pay negotiation between the local drivers and their employers." |